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Scotland seems to be a counter-example to general theories of the relationship between language and national identity or nationalism. These theories point to three components in the ideology of language and nation – that being able to speak the national language is necessary for full national membership, that the national language is a core part of the nation’s culture, and that the future of national political autonomy and the future of the national language are connected with each other.

The big tent of an independent Scotland has space for a national church, according to the government’s education secretary. Mike Russell MSP spoke with University of Edinburgh divinity professor Mona Siddiqui about Scotland’s religious future on Wednesday, 7 May 2014. The choice of the secretary is not an idiosyncratic one: Russell’s current brief gives him responsibility for Scotland’s denominational schools; and whilst at Edinburgh, he studied theology at New College.

The 23 February edition of the Sunday Times republished Pat and Ken's contributions to our debate. Here it is again in case you've missed it.

In an effort to broaden the debate, we've asked two prominent figures in Scottish arts and culture to address the theme How could a Yes or a No vote help Scotland cope better with the future? In this feature, sci-fi writer Ken MacLeod and musician Pat Kane will present their cases. They haven't seen each others contributions beforehand.

In an effort to broaden the debate, we've asked two prominent figures in Scottish arts and culture to address the theme How could a Yes or a No vote help Scotland cope better with the future? In this feature, sci-fi writer Ken MacLeod and musician Pat Kane will present their cases. Ken's argument for a no vote is below.

In an effort to broaden the debate, we've asked two prominent figures in Scottish arts and culture to address the theme How could a Yes or a No vote help Scotland cope better with the future? In this feature, sci-fi writer Ken MacLeod and musician Pat Kane will present their cases. Pat's argument for a yes follows.

In an effort to broaden the debate, we've asked two prominent figures in Scottish arts and culture to address the theme How could a Yes or a No vote help Scotland cope better with the future? In this feature, sci-fi writer Ken MacLeod and musician Pat Kane will present their cases. They haven't seen each others contributions beforehand.

The Scottish Parliament's Educational and Culture committee has issued a call for written evidence on the subject of Scotland's educational and cultural future. The inquiry will cover further and higher education, early years, childcare and employability, and broadcasting and culture.

In the first of our new blog series, Politics in a Changing Spain, Dr Robert Liñeira (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid) looks at the recent parliamentary election and its implications for the future of Spanish politics.

In their contribution to our majority nationalism series, Antoine Bilodeau of Concordia University and Luc Turgeon of the University of Ottawa share the result of their survey which compares the way in which Quebecers and Canadians construct community boundaries.